BILL NUMBER: AB 510	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 2, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Evans

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2009

   An act to amend Section 11454.5 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to CalWORKs  , and making an appropriation
therefor  .



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 510, as amended, Evans. CalWORKs: aid amount calculation.
   Existing federal law provides for allocation of federal funds
through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
block grant program to eligible states, with California's version of
this program being known as the California Work Opportunity and
Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program.
   Under the CalWORKs program each county provides cash assistance
and other benefits to qualified low-income families and individuals
who meet specified eligibility criteria. 
   Existing law continually appropriates money from the General Fund
to pay for a share of aid grant costs under the CalWORKs program.

   Under existing law, a parent or caretaker relative is ineligible
to receive CalWORKs aid when he or she has received aid for a
cumulative total of 60 months. Existing law excludes from this
calculation months when specified conditions exist.
   This bill, commencing January 1, 2009, would additionally exclude
from the above calculation, months when a recipient has been excused
from participating in welfare-to-work activities for good cause 
,  due to a lack of necessary supportive services resulting
from insufficient CalWORKs funding in the annual Budget Act.
By extending the period of eligibility under these circumstances,
this bill would make an appropriation. In addition, by  
By  increasing the duties of counties administering the
CalWORKs program, the bill would impose a state-mandated local
program. 
   Existing law continually appropriates money from the General Fund
to pay for a share of aid grant costs under the CalWORKs program.
 
   This bill would provide that no appropriation shall be made for
the purposes of the bill. 
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
   Vote:  2/3   majority  . Appropriation:
 yes   no  . Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 11454.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   11454.5.  (a) Any month in which the following conditions exist
shall not be counted as a month of receipt of aid for the purposes of
subdivision (a) of Section 11454:
   (1) The recipient is exempt from participation under Article 3.2
(commencing with Section 11320) due to disability, or advanced age in
accordance with paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 11320.3,
or due to caretaking responsibilities that impair the recipient's
ability to be regularly employed, in accordance with paragraph (4) or
(5) of subdivision (b) of Section 11320.3.
   (2) The recipient is eligible for, participating in, or exempt
from, the Cal-Learn Program provided for pursuant to Article 3.5
(commencing with Section 11331) or is participating in another teen
parent program approved by the department.
   (3) The cost of the cash aid provided to the recipient for the
month is fully reimbursed by child support, whether collected in that
month or any subsequent month.
   (4) The family is a former recipient of cash aid under this
chapter and currently receives only child care, case management, or
supportive services pursuant to Section 11323.2 or Article 15.5
(commencing with Section 8350) of Chapter 2 of Part 6 of the
Education Code.
   (5) To the extent provided by federal law, the recipient lived in
Indian country, as defined by federal law, or an Alaskan native
village in which at least 50 percent of the adults living in the
Indian country or in the village are not employed.
   (6) On or after January 1, 2009, the recipient has been excused
from participation for good cause pursuant to paragraph (1) of
subdivision (f) of Section 11320.3  ,  due to a lack of
necessary supportive services resulting from insufficient funding for
CalWORKs services in the annual Budget Act.
   (b) In cases where a lump-sum diversion payment is provided in
lieu of cash aid under Section 11266.5, the month in which the
payment is made or the months calculated pursuant to subdivision (f)
of Section 11266.5 shall count against the limits specified in
Section 11454.
   SEC. 2.    No appropriation pursuant to Section 15200
of the Welfare and Institutions Code shall be made for the purposes
of this act. 
   SEC. 2.   SEC. 3.   If the Commission on
State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by
the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for
those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section
17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.